5 Types of Conditioning You Should Try

The goal of conditioning is to increase your cardiovascular health, improve your ability to do work, aid in recovery, and burn some calories. You can essentially accomplish each of these goals as long as you keep your heart rate up for an extended period of time. The issue with conditioning is that it’s often repetitive and can put a lot of unneeded stress on the joints. Below are five conditioning modalites you probably haven’t tried, scored by the Under Armour Performance Training Team. The problem is, you can’t find all of these items in every gym. Luckily, for you, UAPC prioritize smart training methods with their equipment selection!

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#1 The Assault Bike
Score: 10/10​

Pros: 

• It allows you to maintain an upright posture. 
• It allows you to work your upper body and lower body at the same time. 
• It produces very little impact on your joints. 
• You can control your pace easily.
• It gets your heart rate up FAST! 
• ​There is little to no learning curve. 

Cons:
None, we love this bike. 

How to use it in your program:
Try using the assault bike if you have interval training in your program. (For example: 30 seconds on, 60 seconds off, or other time sets.) 

#2 Sleds
Score: 10/10

Pros:

• You can push it, pull it, drag it, sprint with it, walk with it, or really do anything you want with it. 
• It allows you to maintain an upright posture.
• It allows you to work your upper body and lower body at the same time. 
• It produces very little impact on your joints. 
• You can control your pace easily. 
• There is little to no learning curve.

Cons:
None

How to use it in your program:
Similar to the assault bike, use this piece of equipment if you see intervals in your program. ​

#3 The Jacobs Ladder
Score: 9/10

Pros: 

• It allows you to work your upper body and lower body at the same time. 
• It produces very little impact on your joints. 
• You can easily control your pace. 
• It is difficult, in a good way.

Cons: 

• ​There is a learning curve.
• Posture can become an issue. 

How to use it in your program:
Use this piece of equipment as a substitute for longer duration exercise. Take it slow at first and find a comfortable pace. ​

#4 Outdoor Running (on a track or trail)
Score: 8/10

Pros: 

• You can easily control the pace. 
• Track running might be the best way to complete interval training.

Cons: 

• It can put stress on your joints, which can lead to injury. If you are going to run outside, try to avoid running on the sidewalk. Trail/track running puts less stress on the joints than running on concrete.
• ​Not everyone has access to a track or trail.

How to use it in your program:
Use the track for interval training or hit the trail if you are going for a longer run.

#5 Incline Treadmill
Score: 7/10

Pros: 

• Great for beginners. 
• Very low impact. 
• Pro tip: Add a weight vest to increase difficulty.

Cons: 

• It is limiting in difficulty. 
• It can be monotonous.
• It’s not a great tool for interval training.  ​

How to use it in your program:
Use this piece of equipment for longer durations/conditioning sessions.